Lubricator



Sept 3, 1929- s- E. PAmLLA 1,127,130

y LUBRIGATOR Filed May 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (alllol 6. @MLM ATTORNEY Sep. 3, 1929. C, E, PADILLA v1,727,130

LUBRIGATOR .Filed May 4. 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR 1&7 hm

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT or-Fics LUBRICATOR.

Application sied May 4, 192e. serial No. 106,593.

This invention relates to lubricating devices for use with rotative cylindrical elements at their bearings and has special reference to heavily loaded shafts, car and like axles.

The features constituting the improvements are briefly enumerated as follows The provision of more el'licient means for causing a circulation of the lubricating material and its positive delivery to the zones of application.

To provide an equally effective distribution of the lubricating material irrespective of direction of rotation ofthe axle, and proportional in quantity with its rate of revolution.

The arrangement of parts in a in anner that permits the journal box to slightly sway and self adjust itself to the axle without disturbance of the device. f j

These and other advantages, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are accomplishedy by the novel and practical construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described andsliown in the accompanying drawings, forming a in aterial part of this disclosure, and in which ,e f n Fig. l1 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and showing an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevational', partial transverse sectional view of the same, the section being taken on line 2 2 of 1.

An axle,designated by thenumerall 10, is (reduced in diameter at its journal 11, the shoulder being formed with a fillet as shown, a similar but smaller fillet being at the'junction of a flange 12 at the extremity of the axle.

A thin anti-frictional partial sleeve 13 seats on the journal 11 and disposed thereover is a box-14, usually termed a brass, having a raised'central portion with angular sides on which is a saddle block 15, its upper surface being slightly curved convexly in the direction of its length in order that the journal box 16 may rest self-conformably thereon.

The inner portion of the journal box contains the usual pocket 17 for a dust guard plate 18, the same surrounding the axle 10 adjacent the wheels; a chamber 19 occupies the lower portion of the box, the wall inclining downwardly towards the outer end to a well 21 having a drainage plug 22.

Above the well is a chamber 23 of considerable cross sectional area, the same having a front wall 24 extending to a plane slightly below the axis of the axle 10, the remaining upper portion of the chamber having a cover 25 hinged to a lug 26 on the top of the chamber casing.

The cover 25 is provided with an inlet for a liquid lubricant having a plug 27 and the cover may be securedl to the wall 2.4 by screws 28.

Theends of the axle 10 are drilled and tapped to receive a screw 30 by which is secured a hub 31 provided with radial arms 32 carrying a rim 33presenting an annular periphery, having a reduced step 34 at its rear or inner side, and in addition to the screw 30, a pin 35 acts as a driver between the ends of the axle and hub.

`The rim 33vis enclosed' within a concentric ring 3G having an inreacliing flange 37 fitting the reduced portion 34- of the rim, and secured on the outer side of the ring is Aa plate washer 38, cut away, as at 39, on each side at a point equivalent to the height of lubricating liquid in the chamber 21. This plate washer could be formed' continuously if desired with apertures to permit the entrance of the oil therethrough;

The plate 38, held by screws as shown, retains the ring on the rim but permits a slight. lateral movement to avoid binding.

The ring bears upon the rim mainly at the top, as at a short arc 40, and at a point diametrically below isprovided with a lug 41 loosely engaged between a pair of projections 42 extending upwardly from the lower wall of the well 21. j

A groove 43 is formedeccentrically in the face of the `ring36, which, as will be seen, hangs pendentv on the rim, being guided by the lug 41, the widest ypart of the groove being at the bottom, the groove, which acts as an oil conduit being open below shoulders 44 opposite the ends of the plate collar 38. It will be seen that this groove 43 constitutes a pressure chamber or channel from the oil level to the discharge ports and this constitutes one of its greatest values.

rllhe upper, narrower ends of the groove, which are alike on both sides of the ring,

terminate at openings 45 at the acute ends of the arc 40 in which are secured downwardly bent tubes 46 adapted to distribute oil to the upper parts of the bearing elements and which after lubricating the journal, finds its way to the chamber 19 and thence to the well 21.

As the rim 33 is caused to revolve by ac-` tion of the axle, in whichever direction it may turn, within the well 21, it picks up a film of oil, held partially by capillary attraction, and due to the rotation of the rim, causes the oil to move up in one side or the other of the oil groove 43 and then scraped ofi bythe arc 40 and projected through the tubes 46 to the point of application.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the simple device herein disclosed is effective in lubricating the bearing at all times when the axle is rotated, provided the well be properly supplied with oil, and further, that the quantity of oil caused to circulate is dependent upon the speed of rotation, thus assuring such constant and copious supply as may be required.

It is to be further noted that no form of pump, packings, springs or other ex traneous and troublesome parts are employed, the action being based on well known physical laws, positive and practical in their operation.

Although I have described my improvements with considerable detail and with respect to certain particular forms of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to such details since many changes and modifications may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is 1'- 1. An axle journal box comprising a casing in which the axle is rotatable, said casing having a chamber in its outer portion, a wheel fixed on the end of the axle revoluble in the chamber, a ring circumjacent said wheel in wiping contact therewith over a short arc at the uppermost point, there being a space between the wheel and ring except at the arc of contact, means to retain said ring on said wheel, means to prevent rotation of said ring, and means carried by said ring to conduct a liquid brought a well, a wheel fixed concentrically on the end of the axle, the rim of said wheel being revoluble in said chamber including the well, a ring spaced eccentrically around said wheel, said ring having an arc of contact with the wheel within the casing, a lug on .said ring diametrically opposite said arc,

means in said well to engage said lug preventing rotation of the ring, a fiange on one side of said ring, a plate washer on the other side, said flange and washer enclosing the eccentric space between the rim and ring except that portion disposed in the well, said ring having transverse openings at the ends of said arc, and tubes in said openings leading to the axle bearing in said casing.

3. An axle journal box comprising a casing containing a bearing in which the end section of an axle is revolubly mounted, a

chamber of enlarged sectional area formed on said casing beyond the bearing, said chamber having a part constltuting an oil well, a cover hinged to enclose the upper` part of the chamber, means for partially filling and for draining the chamber,y a hub fastened to the end of the axle, a rim supported by spokes from said hub, said rim having a reduced stepped periphery, a ring having a sharply defined arc of contact seated on said rim in the upper part of said chamber, a lug on said rim diametrically opposite said arc, projections in saidv well engaging said lug, a flange on said ring complementary to the step in said rim, a plate washer on said ring opposite said flange, said flange and washer enclosing an eccentric space between the periphery of said rim and inner diameter of said ring except at the portions in the well, means at the ends of said arc to wipe liquid conveyed by said rim thereto, and tubes to convey the gathered liquid directly to the axle bearings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my signature.

CARLOS E. PADILLA. 

